What You Need To Know About Credit Card Debt Repair

What You Need to Know About Credit Card Debt Repair

Many people call in asking us about credit card debt repair.There are many companies who call themselves "credit repair" companies.  They claim to be able to remove negative items from you credit report in order to improve your credit score. 

It is a big mistake in thinking that any company has the ability to remove a negative item on a credit report without adequate proof of erroneous information. Any item that is removed with fraudulent proof will most likely be placed back on the report.  This could produce a legal issue, so be careful.

The real question is, "Can I do this myself?"  The answer is YES!

You can contest and correct legitimate errors on your credit report by contacting the three major credit reporting bureaus yourself.  You can use the forms provided on their websites or you can write a simple letter stating the item that you are disputing. Make sure to include proof that your dispute request is legitimate such as:

  • A statement from the credit company showing payment
  • A letter from the credit company showing settlement
  • A canceled check showing payment was received and proccessed

Mistakes on your credit report can significantly reduce your credit score, so make sure to review your credit report and dispute any errors as soon as you find them.  Here is the contact information for each of the three bureaus.

Equifax   (800) 238-8067
Mail to:
Equifax Disputes
PO Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
______________________
Experian   (714) 830-7000
Mail to:
Experian
Attn: Disputes
475 Anton Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
________________________
TransUnion   (800) 916-8800
Mail to:
TransUnion Consumer solutions
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000

*You may be required to submit an additional form to TransUnion.  This form can be found at http://bit.ly/ctNrKE

 

 

Tags: credit card debt, debt relief programs, credit repair, credit card debt repair, top credit score tips